Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-26
AN AMERICAN BEAUTY.

|
brilliancy, to the flight of a rocket. Whether
the smile can be carried any further the fol-
| lowing narrative will sufficiently show.
| Mrs. Blackie Tanners history commenced
on board a homeward bound Cunarder. She
was not actually born on board, but it is an
understood thing that American ladies, when
| transcendently beautiful, have no antece-
| dents. They are born again, as it were, in
| crossing the Atlantic Therefore, when we
| have ascertained that Mrs. Blackie Tanner
| duly paid her fare as a saloon passengcr by
the Umbria, and brought with her at least
double the quantity Of luggage that a pros
porous duchess would require, it is unneces-
| sary to push inquiries further back. Let US
| suppose that she rose from the sea in New
| York harbor just before the Cunarder sailed
| like the American Venus that she certainly
| was.
Mrs. Tanner, who, wherever she came
from, had been brought up with her eyes
| open, crossed in the autumn, when good
many English people worth knowing were
booking their passages homeward. She was
| thus able to turn her six days in the saloon of
, the Umbria to very good account. Before
she landed at Liverpool she had secured
invitations to couple of unexceptionable
entofs hospitable mansion in Suffolk. Lord
Oldentof was widower, and had no notion
of changing bis condition, but he fell, never
| theless, good deal under the sway of the
fair American, and made himself useful to
her in more ways than one. Among other
things he wrote diplomatic little note, COM
mending her to the good graces of his cousin,
Lady Gertrude Haughton, who had reigned
.ifNI IF Of
don society, and who was privileged to move
in that sacred inner circle of fashion which
has its center in Marlborough house. By
sedulously improving her opportunities
in this and other ways Mrs. Blackie Tam
ner made enough friends before the next
London season opened to insure her pros
porous debut ia the metropolis, and once
launched there her beauty, talents and knowl-
edge of the world soon did the rest. In her
upward career however, she owed nothing
to the favor of Lady Gertrude Haughton. the
reason for which shall now be explained
By dint Of constant circumspection in her
conduct and company, Lady Gertrude
Haughton had succeeded in achieving repu-
tation for rigid exclusiveness which was al
most unique; in fact, by many competent
judges, to be on Lady Gertrude's visiting list
was regarded an even more satisfactory
social testimonial than to have kissed the
hand of the sovereign or dined at the table of
the heir apparent. 1t need hardly be said,
therefore. tina. Lady Gertrude was not the
person to accept an asprant for social emf
hence on a mere certificate from a vagrant
nobleman that be had picked up this lady on
the deck of an Atlantic steamer and found
her as charming as she was beautiful Her
ladyship made an agreeable reply to Lord
Oldentof7s letter; but she determined that
she would personally investigate the fair
American before committing herself.
1t was not long before an opportunity of SO
doing presented itself in the shape of an invi-
tation to a certain Mrs. Gatherum's, where
the new beauty was to be on view. By this
time Lady Gertrude's interest in Mrs. Blackie
Tanner was stimulated by the reports which
had reached her of that ladys marvellous fas-
cinations. She accordingly swallowed GER
tain antipathies toward Mrs. Gatherum and
went to inspect tbs American wonder On
entering the room her ladyship was pleased
to meet an intimate acquaintance of her own
from the United States in the person Of Mr..
Southern Polo, the great traveller, who had
lately taken up his abode in this country
This gentleman Lady Gertrude soon contrived
to take aside into a corner, where they could
discuss the guest of the evening without in
terruption.
"She is very beautiful" said her ladyship,
CHANGING toward the spot where Mrs. Blacllie
Tanner stood in the center of an admiring
group. "You have every right to be proud of
your countrywoman, Mr.. Polo"
There could be no question about this
Mrs. Blackie Tanner was quite as beautiful
as rumor represented her, and perhaps more
so; but it was pulling kind of beauty, too,
far removed from that of the ordinary
Yankee belle, and yet in some undefinable
way unmistskably American. She was dark
almost to fault, with e profuson of the hair
which the novelists call blue black, and feat
ures strongly marked, but beautifully mod
eled. Though above the average height, she
moved with a grace and dignity which, if
gifts of nature, were not those which are
often bestowed on mature children in the old
world. Her features, too, had something of
the We're de We're repose about them, but this
was neutralzed by the fire and vi0acity in
her eyes, which were rather deeply set and
keen as a hawks.
at is very unusual type of beauty" said
Lady Gertrude. where does she come
fromm
II have heard the question asked a dozen
times, and / know no more than your lady.
Ship" replied Mr.. Polo. "And yet, oddly
enough, am convinced that have seen her
before"
II wish YOU could tell me where, Mr. Polo.
am particularly interested in this lady,
81 believe l met her somewhere in the west,
bat cannot recall the circumstances NY
friend Petersen would recognize her. have
no doubt. l will send him her photograph
They are to be had at any shop"
Il hope you will not take that trouble on
account of what said," observed Lady Ger
hude.
But, nevertheless, on the following morn
ing Mr.. Polo dispatched copy of the new
beauty's photograph to Mr.. Petersen, who
had been the companion Of his travels The
truth was that he himself felt not little
curiosity about Mrs. Blackie Tanners early
history, having watched with some amuse-
ment the success in English society of two or
three of his fair compatriots, who like the
prophets, had been entirely without honor in
their own country. In tine course of a mail
or two he got his answer. and then he remem- |
bered Mrs. Blackie Tanner well enough He
did not convey the whole Of his information |
to Lady Gertrude, but lie told her enough |
when they next met TO decide her that she |
could not act upon Lord Oldentoff's recon- |
mendation. Her ladyship was even induced |
to take a still stronger step. ami ole which |
involved her in no slight inconvenience and |
annoyance.
Now, within a few days of the above men, |
tened communication from Mr.. Polo, an in |
timstion was conveyed to Lady Gertrude by |
a certain channel that the presence of Mrs |
Backie Tanner at Der iadyship's Forthcoming |
reception would be specially gratifying to her |
hitter trial In. OIL L